GRIGORENKO APPEARS DONE WITH TEAM
Forward Mikhail Grigorenko, a key return piece in the Avalanche’s 2015 trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly to the Buffalo Sabres, wasn’t given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and appears done with Colorado. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.
Grigorenko, 23, played in 75 games last season, producing 23 points (10 goals). He played in 74 games in 2015-16, his first season with the Avs, amassing 27 points (six goals). The Avs acquired Grigorenko, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward prospect J.T. Compher and a second-round draft from Buffalo for O’Reilly and forward Jamie McGinn. Zadorov and Compher will be regular contributors next season.
The Avs also didn’t qualify RFA defenseman Patrick Weircioch, who played in 57 games last season, his first year with the team after signing as an unrestricted free agent last summer.
Colorado made qualifying offers to seven RFAs: forwards Sven Andrighetto, Gabriel Bourque, Felix Girard, Matt Nieto and Rocco Grimaldi; and defensemen Duncan Siemens and Zadorov.
Draftees. Five of the Avalanche’s seven 2017 draft picks met the Denver media Monday, and all seven will participate in the three-day development camp beginning Tuesday at the Family Sports Center. Most of the camp’s attention will be put on Colorado’s first two picks: rightshooting defensemen Cale Makar (fourth overall) and Conor Timmins (32nd).
The Avs also chose forward Nick Henry in the fourth round (94th overall), goalie Petr Kvaca in the fourth (114th), center Igor Shvyrev in the fifth (125th), left wing Denis Smirnov in the sixth (156th) and defenseman Nick Leivermann in the seventh (187th). Kvaca and Shvyrev were not present Monday at the Pepsi Center because of visa and travel issues.
DU’s Butcher waiting.
Hobey Baker Award winner Will Butcher of the University of Denver is continuing to ponder whether to sign with the Avalanche or become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16. He won’t decide until next week at the earliest. The 2013 Avs draft pick wants to see what unfolds Saturday, when free agency begins. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent because NHL teams have just four years to sign their selections or they lose their rights. Development camp roster. Goalies (4) — No. 60 Adam Werner; 61 Petr Kvaca; 74 Francis Leclerc; 75 Ryan Larkin.
Defensemen (8) — 41 Nicolas Meloche; 59 Cale Makar; 62 Tom Gregoire; 63 Desmond Bergin; 68 Conor Timmins; 76 Andrei Mironov; 78 Nate Clurman; 80 Nick Leivermann.
Forwards (10) — 17 Tyson Jost; 46 J.C. Beaudin; 64 Sami Moilanen; 65 Ty Lewis; 67 Hugo Roy; 70 Nick Henry; 72 Denis Smirnov; 73 Travis Barron; 79 Brady Shaw; 81 Cam Morrison.